Raiders revel in victory, worry about QB situation later

There will come a time when the Raiders have to worry about their quarterback situation in light of the broken collarbone sufferred by starter Jason Campbell.
For now, they deserse to revel in their victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday as they improved to 4-2 on the season, the first time they have surged two games above .500 since the 2002 season.
“I keep telling everybody this team is becoming something,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson said. “We don’t blink when things happens. Obviously, we lost our quarterback early. Very unfortunate. But that’s part of the game, part of the business. We all understand that. But today was about a lot of good things.”
The Raiders honored the late Al Davis with tributes throughout the day, including the lighting of a torch in the southeast corner of the stadium by former Raiders coach John Madden.
There also was a 101-yard kick return for a touchdown by Jacoby Ford, which tied his career-best and upped his total in 22 games to four TDs on returns.
Linebacker Aaron Curry also made his Raiders debut, four days after he was traded to the Raiders from the Seattle Seahawks.

PENALTIES NOT AN ISSUE
Perhaps lost in the shuffle of all that took place today, the Raiders committed only five penalties for 35 yards. That’s a far cry from ideal, but it beats the heck out of the pace they set through five games.
During that time, the Raiders were flagged 50 times for 445 yards.

IMPRESSIVE FIRSTS
Fullback Manase Tonga and tight end David Ausberry made their first touch of the ball in a regular-season game memorable ones.
Tonga busted through the middle of the line for 12 yards and a first down on a third-and-one play. Ausberry turned a third-down play into a first down with a short reception.

CURRY THRILLED WITH NEW TEAM
Curry said things unfolded Sunday the way he expected, just the way they appeared on videotape and the precise way he was instructed by defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.
As a result, he is pleased with his new teammates, new coaches and new lease on life. Quite a turnaround for a player who went from being the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft in 2009 to an observer from the bench as recently as a week ago.
“Yeah, definitely,” Curry said, in response to feeling comfortable in the Raiders defense. “I feel like this is a defense that allows me to utilize what I do best, which is run. They blitzed me one time but my best attribute is when the ball is snapped, who has the ball and go and get it and play smart.”
Curry said he spent so much time with linebackers coach Greg Biekert and Bresnahan that he was able to function in the Raiders defense without limitation, even though he practiced only one day after he arrived from Seattle.
“I spent a lot of time with Coach B, and we went over what we call the regular list, what we were going to play this week,” Curry said. “We’re focusing on the regular list and then in our spare time we’re studying the entire playbook. I’m picking it up pretty easy.”
Jackson said Curry’s play Sunday validated his decision to stick Curry in the starting lineup ahead of Quentin Groves.
“He was out there flying around, trying to make plays,” Jackson said. “As I told you when I traded for him, I traded for him for a reason, to stick him in there.”

FORD BUSTS OUT
The Raiders struggled on kick returns their first five games, regardless who Jackson stuck back there — Nick Miller, Taiwan Jones, Jacoby Ford or Rock Cartwright.
Ford and others said it was only a matter of time before the dam burst. That time came in the second quarter, when Ford fielded a kick 1 yard deep in the end zone, blew around the masses about his own 20, into the clear and down the sideline for his fourth career touchdown on kick returns.
He tied his career-best, to boot, in terms of length of return. He said he sensed it coming Sunday.
“Special teams had a good week of preparation this week,” Ford said. “I also got to say that Rock Cartwright actually called that. He actually said it in practice, as soon as we got done running that exact return, he said, ‘You’re due to break one this week.’ ”

TWELVE YEARS IN THE MAKING
It’s a play the Raiders have worked on since Jon Gruden was the head coach, and punter Shane Lechler was a wide-eyed rookie on a veteran-laden team.
Time and again, the Raiders never tried a fake punt in a regular-season game. That is, until Sunday, when Jackson gave Lechler the green light on a 53-year field-goal attempt in the third quarter.
Lechler received Jon Condo’s snap, emerged from his one-knee stance, lofted a pass to tight end Kevin Boss and threw up his hands in celebration.
“We’ve run that play in practice for 12 years,” Lechler said. “This is the first time we got to do it.”
It’s no wonder Lechler wasted little time celebrating. Boss handled his part by taking the ball 35 yards for a touchdown that gave the Raiders an insurmountable 24-7 lead.
Lechler said he campaigns for that play “every practice.” To no avail.
That marked Lechler’s first pass attempt in 12 years, even though he can make a case for throwing the best ball of anyone on the Raiders roster, quarterbacks included — he played the position in high school.
“I didn’t realize he could throw the ball like he could until just a few weeks ago,” Boss said. “He’s got a great arm. He can throw it like a lot of quarterbacks can throw it. My recollection is that he was a pretty good quarterback in high school. He’s still got the arm. He’s a great athlete.”
Last week, Jackson signed off on a fake punt, with Rock Cartwright taking the snap from Condo and rambling 35 yards for a key first down.
It’s part of what Jackson calls “living on the edge,” and it’s part of what endears Jackson to his players.
“I love it,” Lechler said. “This is a very, very aggressive staff. Hue is an aggressive play caller. Some of the chances we take on special teams, a few weeks in a row, it’s fun to play for him. You feel like you always have a chance.”

Oh so, YOU are the biggest Puss! F-you douche!! Have a personality dickweed!

2romes

I like that Hue is using David Ausberry a bit more. I thinks he can make a big impact on this team. Dmac needs more touches or need to be in the game more. Most teams keep their home run hitter in the game as much as possible and I feel the Raiders should take advantage of all his skill as much as possible.

Bring Trent Edward would not help the QB situation at all. I saw all I needed to see from him. He was shown to be far inferior than boller. Their was no upside to his game. Boller really needs to step his game up help this team. As of now The QB position is the weakest link!!!

1249.bcz24 Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:27 am
I read that Garrard just wanted his 2011 salary guaranteed. Miami wouldn’t do it because they were interested in looking at Henne too. If that is all he is asking, then get the deal done!
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Miami didn’t bring in Garrard until Henne was injured (they knew it was a season ender). The report was that he ‘wanted a long term commitment’ but it could have just been a crap situation.
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No, Miami contacted Garrard right after he was cut, but wouldn’t even guarantee a contract for 2011, then when they contacted him later once Henne was injured he told them to eat it.

raidertay

Its Campbell’s throwing shoulder. I cant see him being back in 6 wks.

SilverAndBlackBleeder

DHB’s effort on the play where he fell to catch the pass and got back up to put a move on the DB before going down shortly after literally wants to make me go out and get that kid’s jersey today. In fact, I just might go to the Raider Image store at Universal Citywalk and do that tonight!

Ford’s sideline tip-toe regaining of his balance slightly edges that out for best effort of the day though

HueKnows

Apparently Steve thinks that there is nothing to write about today. I guess the 1200 post must be about nothing.

http://raiders.com Albert Bigelow Paine

raiderinpa Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:30 am

Albert Bigelow Paine

Oh so, YOU are the biggest Puss! F-you douche!! Have a personality dickweed!

——–
LMAO, aren’t we a little sensitive today. F*ck off bro.

Dakota

1243.Just Fire Baby Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:22 am
At least with Gerrard, when he leaves the pocket, he doesn’t turn into a 6 foot puzzy like Soup did.

++++++++++

I imagine that once Campbell comes back he will be an even bigger pzzy when he runs after that injury lol.

From my experience, these kind of optimistic player injury estimates are almost always short of the actual time it takes. And what kind of condition and how effective can we expect Campbell to be rushing back from a broken collarbone injury?

We don’t have maybe 6 – 8 weeks to sit around and hope to get Campbell back at some level resembling his better games this season. If he were Aaron Rodgers or Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, sure. You’d bide your time and come up with the best stop-gap solution. I think we have to look now for a QB who is capable of bringing us home this season. Campbell got us off to a nice start and was playing solid football. But now’s the time to swing big.

And Kyle Boller backed up by Josh McCown is not what I’m talking about.

HueKnows

2romes Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:30 am
I like that Hue is using David Ausberry a bit more. I thinks he can make a big impact on this team. Dmac needs more touches or need to be in the game more. Most teams keep their home run hitter in the game as much as possible and I feel the Raiders should take advantage of all his skill as much as possible.
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However, I don’t think Ausberry on the double reverse is the way to go.

raiderinpa

Just sensitive to a fellow Raider fan calling me an idiot for no reason.. Whats wrong, you’re a Broncos fan?

DMAC

New post suckas

YoungAmerican

Garrard and Palmer are really the only options if the Raiders want a starting QB after the bye week.

HueKnows

JB Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:27 am
VittorioTafur Vittorio Tafur
Campbell says he is having surgery today, hopes to be back in 6 weeks
51 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply
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We have to put JC on the IR, we dont have the roster spot to wait around for him.
I think he is now done wearing the Silver and Black.

lefty12

2romes-nothings changed,the QB position has been the weakest link.You guys are acting like we lost Tom Brady.

http://Raiders.com RaiderTW

Since you guys are throwing out everybody how about Brady Quinn?
I’ll bet Grossman is available, just ask Shanny, hahahaha…
I say we get David Humm.

ghostraiders

David Hummer? ? Man he was horrible. .. thanks for reminding me how good we have it without him..

2romes

DHB route running has been amazing!!!! The one that got away from boller after DHB runs the perfect route is imprinted in my mind. Man, DHB has really made a great turnaround for himself.

The Raiders have some of the best receivers in the game,in my opinion. The Raiders need a QB that can maximize all of those talented receivers skills!!

KingDan

Kurt warner ?

ghostraiders

Forget favre. … bring back the other retired Dude. .. Kurt Warner. …

ghostraiders

Lmao.. king..we think alike.

2romes

lefty12 Says:
October 17th, 2011 at 11:43 am

I feel Campbell manages the game much better that Boller. Campbell was the starter for a reason. What changed is now Boller is the starting QB. Is that not change???

Dstomp

according to Jay Glazer, Garrard needs immediate surgery on a herniated disc in his back…… so looks like he is out.

They may not be worried about their QB situation, but they BETTER start worrying about their in-game decision making. How Hue goes for it on 4th and 1 on the opponent’s ten yd line w/a backup QB is beyond me. We’re up 14 pts at that point, kick the FG and game over-recovered onside kick or not-that was a boneheaded move, and its going to come back to bite us down the road I fear-winning is the greatest disinfectant there is-c’mon Hue, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS!

Hagar the Horrible

Nbits…post 1281:

Best post of the day, obviously the most accurate!

If we take the automatic three, the Brownies never score again…they know thet’re out of it…no more wind in their sails.